Pedestrian Program

“Washington, DC will be a city where any trip can be taken on foot safely and comfortably, and where roadways equally serve pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and motorists.” (District Pedestrian Master Plan 2009)

Walking has been a fundamental part of everyday travel in Washington, DC from the City’s initial design by Pierre L’Enfant in 1791. L’Enfant’s plan for the City was inherently walkable. He envisioned a series of grand avenues radiating from the core of the City, and a grid street network which would overlay these avenues and conform to the contours of the land.

Over 200 years later, L’Enfant’s layout of the City remains largely intact, and provides both opportunities and challenges to modern pedestrian travel. While some parts of Washington, DC are known throughout the world for being great places to walk because of the grid network and tree-lined streets, others are not. Many of the grand avenues have become major arterial roadways, carrying heavy volumes of traffic and presenting challenges to pedestrians.

Video available on YouTube. Created by Spot Devices for details about how the new HAWK signals work and what pedestrians and motorists should know.

Installed at mid-block crosswalks, the Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon System (PHB), formerly known as the HAWK, remains dark until a pedestrian presses a pushbutton to activate the system. When activated, the system flashes a sequence of amber warning beacons followed by red "stop" beacons, providing motorists with an unmistakable message to stop.

The HAWK signal is designed with a signal-beacon to help pedestrians safely cross busy streets. While it appears differently to motorists, to the pedestrian the signal works similarly to other push-button-activated traffic signals in the District by stopping traffic with a red signal for vehicular traffic and allowing pedestrians to cross with a WALK signal. For motorists, the HAWK signal displays standard signal indications but in a new sequence.

Pedestrian Master Plan

As a result of pedestrian safety challenges, DDOT developed the Pedestrian Master Plan 2009. This serves as the foundation for DDOT's pedestrian programs and represents the first comprehensive citywide effort to address pedestrian issues. The Pedestrian Master Plan contains an analysis of current walking conditions in the city, recommendations for policy and physical updates and an implementation plan. The goals of the plan are:

To reduce the number of pedestrians killed and injured in crashes with motor vehicles

To increase pedestrian activity by making walking a comfortable and accessible mode of travel throughout all parts of the District.

Priority Corridors

The Pedestrian Master Plan identified roads that have high levels of pedestrian activity, yet poor conditions for walking. Combining this data with input from the public, DDOT identified eight priority corridors - one in each ward. Improvements to these corridors have been ongoing.

Currently, the District is working on upgrading the following pedestrian facilities:

Pedestrian Safety

On average, there are approximately 650 pedestrian crashes per year in the District, and approximately 15 pedestrian deaths. DDOT is committed to making a safer environment for pedestrians and publishes crash data.

Related Information

goDCgo

Your #1 resource for transportation information and options to make getting to, and around the District easier than ever.

DC Streetcar

DC Streetcar will facilitate travel for District residents, workers and visitors by complementing existing transit options, and by creating neighborhood connections where they currently do not exist.

DC Transportation Online Permitting System

This online system enables home owners, tenants, and businesses alike to apply for the specific type of public space occupancy, construction, excavation, annual or rental permit required for use of the public space within the District of Columbia.